Three senior executives from Australian gold mining company Resolute Mining Ltd. have been detained in Mali’s capital, Bamako, in connection with an ongoing investigation into accusations of forgery and damage to public property, sources close to the matter confirmed.
Terry Holohan, the managing director of Resolute Mining, was arrested by the Malian military government, with a Justice Ministry official verifying the detention. Holohan, along with two other company executives, was apprehended on Friday, according to a source speaking on condition of anonymity. The Mines Ministry declined to provide comment when approached by phone.
The arrests come as part of a broader probe into alleged criminal conduct involving Resolute Mining, which holds an 80% stake in the Syama gold mine, located in southwestern Mali. The company has firmly rejected the allegations, with an anonymous spokesperson calling the claims baseless.
The crackdown on foreign firms in Mali’s mining sector has intensified in recent months as the country’s military government seeks to assert greater control over the industry. In September, four employees of Canadian firm Barrick Gold were also detained, though they were later released after the company paid a significant fine.
This increased scrutiny coincides with Mali’s shifting political alliances, with the junta strengthening its ties with Russia while scaling back defense agreements with France, its former colonial power. Since taking power in 2020, Mali’s military leadership has emphasized its commitment to ensuring more equitable distribution of the country’s vast mineral wealth.
Earlier this year, Australian mining firm Firefinch transferred its interests in the Morila gold mine to Sorem, a state-backed company, for a nominal fee of one dollar. Despite being one of Africa’s top gold producers, Mali remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with the wealth from its mineral resources largely benefiting foreign companies rather than the local population.
